combine char date and char time to create numeric datetime

[mikki]

Hi ,

   I have to combine char date (eg  statdt = "04Apr2011") and char time(sttime = '00:00'  . ). Need to create startdate and time for calculation.

how to combine both and create numeric sas date.  and how to create DATETIME format for that.

Please help....

Thanks in advance

Mikki

.

[LinusH]

just concatenate strings and then input using the datetime.  informat.

[mikki]

Hi Lin,

     I tried like that already. Itried following  giving missing values.

data test;

     indt = '12Apr2011';

  intm = '13:20';

   dttm = compress(indt || intm);

   sdttm = input(dttm,  datetime. );

run;

Getting following error:

NOTE: Invalid argument to function INPUT at line 41 column 12.

indt=12Apr2011 intm=13:20 dttm=12Apr201113:20 sdttm=. _ERROR_=1 _N_=1

NOTE: Mathematical operations could not be performed at the following places. The results of the operations have been set to

      missing values.

      Each place is given by: (Number of times) at (Line):(Column).

      1 at 41:12

Please help me ASAP  because I need to find days and hours between start date time and end date time of symptoms.

Thank you,

Mikki

[Ksharp]

data test;

     indt = '12Apr2011';

  intm = '13:20';

   dttm = compress(indt ||':'|| intm);

   sdttm = input(dttm,  datetime. );

format sdttm datetime.;

run;